Kinect user discussion thread

[Asher]

If one gets the Kinect bundle (with the 360 250GB), I'm told it doesn't include the power adapter for older consoles.

My partner I wanted to get the console with the bundle, then share the Kinect...but I've an old 360.

Do the power cables get sold separately? I've not been able to find them...I don't want to pay the $50 premium of buying the Kinect separately just for a $1-2 cable...

 

[AzBat]

Supposedly you will be able to purchase it on the Microsoft Store...

http://store.microsoft.com/microsoft/Kinect-Sensor-Power-Supply/product/9A4CFC08

They cost $35 but are currently out of stock.

Here's the link for the other Kinect accessories they sell...

http://store.microsoft.com/microsoft/Gaming-Kinect/category/310

Tommy McClain

 

[Asher]

Thanks. That's a lot of markup...might just purchase the $150 standalone.

 

[Squilliam]

Man, I can't get wait for mine to get delivered on Monday. A girlfriend of mine who doesn't see the point in PC games or console games can't wait to try it with me. It's the first time she's ever looked at a console without just dimissing it off-hand. She even ignored the Wii and disparaged people that spent too much time on it. But she seems quite intrigued by Kinect.

Hopefully the experience lives up to what we're seeing and hearing from friends.

Regards,
SB

Well what do your other girlfriends think of Kinect?

 

[AzBat]

Thanks. That's a lot of markup...might just purchase the $150 standalone.

I have the older 360 and after taking it on a trip to my dad's I've determined I rather not have to deal with the wall power adapter & USB cable again. One connection would be so much easier. Really contemplating selling my 360 for a new Slim. How about see if you can pick up the cable used on eBay or at a local game store?

Tommy McClain

 

[Silent_Buddha]

Well what do your other girlfriends think of Kinect?

Heh, that's what I get for accidentally leaving out a space between girl and friend.

Regards,
SB

 

[NavNucST3]

If one gets the Kinect bundle (with the 360 250GB), I'm told it doesn't include the power adapter for older consoles.

My partner I wanted to get the console with the bundle, then share the Kinect...but I've an old 360.

Do the power cables get sold separately? I've not been able to find them...I don't want to pay the $50 premium of buying the Kinect separately just for a $1-2 cable...

I don't need mine

 

[Scott_Arm]

I'll post my impressions tonight or tomorrow. Went to quite a few big retailers and couldn't find the kinect sensor bar. It was sold out everywhere. There were a good number of bundles available just about everywhere I looked, but the individual accessory was pretty much non-existent. I ended up going to EB Games, which is usually my last resort, and the manager actually sold me a pre-order that hadn't been picked up since launch day. It was the only one they had, so I was pretty lucky to get it.

 

[Scott_Arm]

I started boxing in Kinect Sports and just couldn't stop. I have to save my energy for the virtual beat down Robert will give me tonight. I have to say, I wish I'd never seen this thing before I played it because I would have shit my pants if someone put it in front of me and I didn't know what it was. I've seen the videos showing all the lag, but I just don't feel it while I'm actually playing. Table Tennis is great, boxing is great, bowling is so so and even the soccer is kind of fun, despite how primitive it is. But really, I'm just going to box a lot.

The goalie mini-game in sports is awesome. I need to bust out some shorts for that one, so I can be quicker on the low saves. Haven't tried Adventures yet.

For setup, I had to move some lights in my living room around, because it couldn't see me well enough for the facial recognition. Haven't tried playing in the dark. Space is definitely an issue. The games require a lot of activity, so you really have to be able to move around. I'm guessing 2 players would be demanding. I have the space for it, so I'll have to try it out.

Never played with Eyetoy or Vision, so I dont know how it compares, but seeing my avatar move as I do is pretty damned cool and eerie. I mean, any time I have a chance to showboat, I move around and see how well it picks things up. If you completely spazz, it does some weird things, but in general if you move as a normal human being would, it picks up what you're doing. Ever want to fist pump at your opponent, well you can do it now.

 

[BadTB25]

I wonder if they can make all Vision games compatible with Kinect.
I downloaded the free Vision game (Totem ball????), but I have never tried it out.

Also, I believe that Uno and Texas Hold'em is Vision enabled.

 

[AzBat]

Live Vision games don't support Kinect. Tried Totem Ball and Uno. Looks like they will need to be updated in order to work.

Tommy McClain

 

[Scott_Arm]

I am completely beat. so much boxing. I beat the computer on champ, which was tough and tiring. Playing against Robert and his girlfriend online was awesome. All of the weird showboating and posturing was hilarious. I ace served him in table tennis while leaning to one side with my opposite leg above the table. It totally fooled him.

Little touches like having the crowd cheer when you raise your arms above your head just make the whole thing really cool.

 

[AzBat]

LOL I'm not a spring chicken anymore. It also helps that I'm grossly overweight, but me & Robert had a good time tonight playing a marathon of Reflex Ridge & River Rush. Reflix Ridge about made me pass out. LOL That's a lot of jumping & I had quite a few times where I just couldn't jump anymore. It's definitely the better online competitive game in Adventures. River Rush initially didn't feel as good as 2-player local. Definitely requires more voice teamwork. Wonder if it would have been better with separate rafts with a race to the finish. Anyway, it was great time. Loved sharing the photos. I'll have to post a few of those on Facebook. Thanks for game Robert. We'll have to do it again sometime!

Tommy McClain

 

[RobertR1]

Yeah, good times. I love running through the Reflex Ridge from start to finish in one go. Killer leg workout.

As Scott points out, Kinect Sports is just awesome. So many little touches you find throughout. Well done Rare. The biggest knock against KS are the menu's. They need to be streamlined. Should be easily patchable.

I think between KS and KA, I did over 2 hours of straight work out. Drenched in sweat but it was awesome. As long as I'm not too sore tomorrow, I'm up for more.

 

[Silent_Buddha]

Loved sharing the photos. I'll have to post a few of those on Facebook.

Heh, the photos can be quite hilarious. This female friend of mine that I was playing with almost liked those more than the actual game (which she had quite a bit of fun with). She's not a gamer at all, much less a console gamer. But she likes it so much she wants me to bring it over to her place sometime so she can show her parents. As well so we can do full on jumping without making the neighbors downstairs (condo) wonder what the heck is going on.

I'm frankly amazed that it was able to make her, a gaming skeptic and console hater, do a 180 and suddenly be asking me to use my X360.

As Scott points out, Kinect Sports is just awesome. So many little touches you find throughout. Well done Rare. The biggest knock against KS are the menu's. They need to be streamlined. Should be easily patchable.

Damn, between your experiences and Scott's I may have to pick up Kinect Sports. I was going to initially skip that one as the online video's I've seen haven't looked all that fun. But for your first hand experiences it sounds like it may be a whole lot more fun than I was giving it credit for.

Either way, although I've only had a chance to play one of the games so far, Kinect Adventures, and that only briefly, I can already tell I'm going to get a great workout no matter what game I play (well except for Joyride perhaps).

Looking forward to trying Your Shape and Dance Central tomorrow. Kinect makes me feel like a kid again. My body on the other hand likes to remind me that I'm getting up there in age.

Regards,
SB

 

[zRifle1z]

I liked the concept of Kinect when I first saw it as Natal. After playing the games, alone and with my family, I would say it is most definetly worth every penny. My wife, who has never played the 360, actually enjoys playing Kinect Adventures and Kinect Sports (beat me by 13 pins in bowling).

Our 10 and 13 year old girls though? Have fallen in love. They both have a Wii. The 10 year old said Kinect Sports made her tired, but was great fun! The 13 year old has been texting away to her friends how playing it makes her feel "magical." She even talked about how she was trying to explain to one of her friends how Kinect "may be a motion gaming copy" of Wii, but it is "way different" and "a lot more fun."

I'd have to say the system works extremly well, and Microsoft may have also hit the mark with the casual and non-gaming public.

 

[zRifle1z]

............Damn, between your experiences and Scott's I may have to pick up Kinect Sports. I was going to initially skip that one as the online video's I've seen haven't looked all that fun. But for your first hand experiences it sounds like it may be a whole lot more fun than I was giving it credit for.

Regards,
SB

Then let me add another. Kinect Sports is a great buy. I'd dare say must by judgeing the amount of fun I've had with it.

 

[kagemaru]

Hoping to read some good Your Fitness impressions soon. The tech behind it seems impressive, I'm just curious how the actual design of the game plays out.

I don't have any experience with somebody that tall in my family, 6ft was the tallest. With our sensor at 2ft high below & center of our TV he needed to be about 7-8 feet from the sensor. If your TV is a LCD or plasma and the top is near 6ft from the floor, then I would suggest the official TV mount for $40.

Tommy McClain

Hey thanks, I'll have to check that out.

 

[Scott_Arm]

Mine is mounted low, and it definitely requires a good distance from the sensor. I'd like to mount mine higher, so I can stand a little closer, since my screen is small.

 

[RobertR1]

Get a small shelf and mount it to the wall above and behind the screen. The higher kinect is, the better it seems to work and requires less space.